Leslie Clack gives an immense and mesmeric
performance in his solo play. He recounts the critical events in the
life of Oscar Wilde leading up to his death in Paris, forgotten by
many and in poverty. He brings out the lightness and darkness in
Wilde’s life and works.
The lightness is revealed in Wilde’s wit
as his fame and popularity increased in the early 1890’s. Wilde
yearned for recognition and this he received with the success of his
comedies. Leslie Clack successfully plays excerpts from several of
the comedies including ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’.
However, the real power of the play is the
revelation of the darker side. The death scene excerpt from
Wilde’s only novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ is totally
convincing. In Wilde’s life, the passion he had for Lord Alfred
‘Bosie’ Douglas ultimately led to his downfall, public
humiliation and imprisonment within months of his greatest success.
The drama of the courtroom scene is brilliantly revealed when Wilde
made one careless throwaway remark which completely undermined his
defence.
Wilde’s final years in prison and, on
release, self imposed exile are treated with historical accuracy
without wallowing in sentimentality.
My advice is, see this play and witness
live theatre at its very best.
*****
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